28 Responses to ‘A five grand fine for kids' parties in the park’

Posted September 16, 2014

Oh, that is so fucked up for more reasons than I can articulate.

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Jon ducks in to say...

Posted September 16, 2014

This makes me want to stab someone. Sometimes I hate this fucking nanny state lamb hating, kransky bashing fucking police state we live in. Due to a lack of any bill of rights i'm sure the greeks will just keep cooking anyway. If I get a chance ill drive up there and join the chorus of " Fuck you Copper!"

Long time lurker, first rant.

John Birmingham is gonna tell you...

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Posted September 16, 2014

To paraphrase, It's all about ROOLS. Some people hate them (anarchist bastards), some love them (fascist bastards) and most of us will tolerate a few for a quiet life (lazy bastards). Sadly, if you live in Brisbane, you've got rule lovers at local, state and federal level. It fascinates me that Conservatives here and in the US are always boasting about cutting red tape and reducing regulation, while in reality they are gagging to regulate every aspect of our lives. Unchecked we'd be back to sumptuary laws governing what we can wear and eat (eg voucher systems). Terrorism scares enable control over movement and communication and excuse total violation of privacy. False alarms re voter fraud excuse new rules to disenfranchise the poor. They want to know what we say, think and buy and regulate us to the "everything that is not compulsory is forbidden" level - as do many religious cults.

The only red tape that gets cut is the kind that protects basic rights, employment conditions, health or aged care.

Posted September 16, 2014

Close, but not quite. They don't enjoy regulation. They hate it. But they hate something more than regulation - i.e., They really, really hate people enjoying themselves in any way. They hate good food, enjoyable sex, public displays of affection and laughter that isn't derisive.

"If any form of pleasure is exhibitedReport to me and it will be prohibited.I'll put my foot down, so shall it be -This is the Land of the Free..."

No, tories like regulation a lot. The thing they hate more than anything else is freedom enjoyed by people they look down on. The thing that you and I call freedom is a hateful thing to them, while what they call freedom is a very abstract thing that is largely meaningless in the world we live in.

I've seen tories close up while they have been getting stuck into some good regulation that applies to people of whom they disapprove. They adore it. It's like air to them.

They really, really don't like regulations that apply to them. But that's very different.

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Posted September 16, 2014

You mob want to try living in the intervened Northern Territory. It has been truly ruined by federal intervention. You can't even have a beer anymore without 4 coppers having a good look at you and chucking you out of the pub if you dare to even laugh. One funny thing happened last Saturday which was aussie rules grand final day. The cops were in the club and everyone had their eyes down, didn't make eye contact and didn't talk or laugh. When we judged the cops were out the door the whole joint erupted into the team song complete with, dancing, didgeridoo and the great voice of the singer for East Journey, Rrawun Maymuru. It was an outstanding Territory moment. We've got the rabbit staying up the road but he wont meet any of us reprobates. You should see the army of spin doctors designed to keep the great unwashed from telling him what they think of him. He's even got the real army here with him and is getting his meals flown 1000 km's by the air force because I don't think they trust anyone around here not to poison the bastard. He must be smarter than he looks.

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Posted September 16, 2014

I don't have a problem with a big group having to get a permit to use a shelter (barbecue area, whatever). Makes sense. The city should get to charge a nominal fee-$300 seems excessive, though. And $5k fines are way out of line, unless that big party is leaving a mess for the park workers to clean up. Sounds like your governments are picking the time-honored tradition of 'revenue stream generators' from places like, oh, Chicago.

If the groups aren't leaving a big mess, or harassing others, leave them alone. They aren't hurting anything, and there's worse aromas than garlicky lamb.

Posted September 17, 2014

You bastards. You cannot tolerate a seppo of Irish extraction with Greek pretensions to take a little pseudo-ethnic pride in garlicy lamb. With a little fresh oregano. But just a little. And nomint, for God's sake. That is just so goyish.

Lulu would have you know...

Posted September 17, 2014

The Polish Deli at the Queen Vic Market in Melbourne. I can't get more specific than that - all I know is that I stand in front of their stall and it smells absolutely WONDERFUL. I've never been able to identify if it's a specific cured/smoked pork product which I can smell, or the combination of all of them.

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Posted September 16, 2014

$5K fine is excessive, but if you're having a large event, $300 fee doesn't sound unreasonable - depending on how much of a mess you leave behind. It might be better if the fee could act as a deposit, returnable (partially or entirely) if you clean up after yourself.

Dino not to be confused with puts forth...

Posted September 16, 2014

Yes Lulu,

Last time I was in Brisbane*(1992?) the Greek thing was noticable.

The Actuarys will do the Maths and work out the cost.

Personally, I hate individuals who look down their noses.

I see them nearly everyday.

They are spread out and won't go to Gatherings.

They don't go to Gatherings.

They hate confrontation.

They hate being challenged by community.

This is why community gatherings are important.

Peop-le are challenged.

Otherwise we will have a bueracracy.

An illiterate burocracy.

Cultural Illiterarates.

Brain Dead office workers who have never spoken to a stranger.

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It's another "here we Joh again" on the quiet, dumbed down so much they think we won't notice. Your protest or other public gathering of 50 people or more will be a fine of $5k each, so a nice little minimum take of $250k if our friendly peace officials really decide to play.

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Posted September 16, 2014

Couple of quick points.

1 Council officers do not have the authority to Require your name & address. They can inquire all they like, but can't compel you to identify yourself like State Gov officers (ahem) can. It may be an offence to give false & misleading info so just politely decline.

2 I strongly encourage anyone who received such a ticket to invite the council to prove it in court. I'd love to see them establish (beyond a reasonable doubt remember) A; Who was responsible for the shindig, B; the >50 people were all attending That shindig, not another coincidentally located in close proximity & C; the accused did not take Reasonable Steps to limit attendees to 49, remember the onus of proof is on them, not you.

3 I'd urge you to have some pity for the poor shmuck in the uniform, it's a job, a crappy underpaid job, but a job.

Posted September 17, 2014

Good points and well made. Just a minor quibble I think the offences would be a civil one, though I might be mistaken "beyond a reasonable doubt" is the standard to prove in crimial matters for civil offences I think its on balance of probablities.

Though my knowledge of such thing is purely based on what our legal services unit tell me verbally during debriefs of prosecutions and they never provide such advice in writing so it tends to be a moving target. Seems to be whatever suits their arguement and denies yours has been my experience.

But I certaily agree challange since given the poor resourcing and understaffed nature of government the poor sod told to enforce the rule is likely to have been provided little training, support or even bee shown how to take notes to rely on in court.